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316 government, and exerting himself with admirable zeal. The most effective interference would undoubtedly have been from the United States government; but this was exerted with so little zeal as to wholly fail.

As it was, the Juarist authorities remained firm in their decision that the cause of justice and the future peace of Mexico demanded the death of the prisoners. Magnus offered to procure guarantees from the leading European sovereigns that they should never again tread the soil or disturb the country. But all in vain. Nor did the earnest pleading of deputations of prominent women avail anything, or the frantic appeal of others like Princess Salm-Salm, speaking for her husband as well as for the archduke. Especially heart-rending was the scene with Miramon's wife, who with her two little children fell weeping at the